Hi,
All searches have been predicated on the newspaper interview from the Sydney
Sunday News, July 9, 1922 wherein a lot of "facts" were mentioned.
What is the reference for this please ie. when/where did the birth/baptism take place and the reference, if any, for it please.
A subsequent search of the FreeBDM and an IGI entry in the LDS FamilySearch database showed James & Elizabeth (Hall) Maryott as parents to George Alfred, born 1839, Kent.
Yes, but if we know why they wrote to somebody about this (it must have been in response to some query) then it may help us to help you. Was the letter in response for an application for a birth certificate ......... how exactly is it worded?
The letter was in response to a request made by George's Great Grand Daughter (now deceased) to purchase the birth certificate of George Alfred Maryott born 15 July 1838 to James and Elizabeth Maryott in Kent.
The response states, and I quote "We have not issued a certificate because the particulars at the entry you selected do not agree with those on your application, that is, the father is not James Maryott, and the mother is not Elizabeth Hall".
Do you actually have the record of this? I ask because sometimes merchant seamen can be traced. I have found ref. to the "Queen of Australia" arriving Victoria 21 August 1863 - would this be the voyage?
I do not have a record of him being on the Queen of Australia (also, the newspaper interview shows "Queen of England"), but I do have details of the ship running aground and being repaired via the newspaper articles dated May 2 and May 7 1862 [The Argus Courier, Brisbane]. All details, including reference to the Captain, Capt Nolan, match the information in the newspaper interview, so at least that much is correct.
If he was on the "Waterloo", post 1853 Royal Navy service records have been indexed online http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/royal-navy-service.asp?WT.hp=Registers%20of%20Seamen%27s%20Services
I agree - however, I have undertaken a number of searches over different times on the National Archives, and have not found any mention of a Maryott, or any variation - Maryat, Mariott, Marriet, etc..
I have a number of pictures of his medal which states GEORGE MARYOTT quite clearly and unambiguously, and is for the
BALTIC 1854-1855 campaign.
These are the details extracted from the newspaper article (square brackets [] are mine):
Excerpt from Sunday News, July 9, 1922
Article entitled, VETERAN OF CRIMEA, Hearty and Happy at 84
1. “I was born in Dover 1838” (last surviving Crimean veteran of the Navy and Army Veteran’s Association)
2. joined the Navy when I was 15 years old [using 1838 = 1853]
3. attended the local charity school in Dover, as his parent were very poor
4. saw the Duke of Wellington riding his old grey horse from his home at Walmer Castle, on his way to his solicitors Messrs Knockert & Sons – George held his horse while Duke visited solicitors – afterwards the Duke slipped him a shilling
5. Aged 15 went aboard the flagship Waterloo at Sheerness, and while aboard her the Russian War broke out.
6. Drafted to a paddle-wheel wooden steamer – the Porcupine, 5 guns, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Jackson. Participated in the bombardment of the upper part of the Gulf of Finland.
7. One of the crew of the porcupine, which assisted in laying the Atlantic Cable from Valencia bay in Ireland, to Trinity Bay in Newfoundland. The Agamemnon accompanied by The Lizard carried half, and the Niagara accompanied by the Porcupine, the other half. The splicing of the cable was carried out amidships in mid-ocean, and George was one of the crew helping to pull the cable ashore at Trinity Bay. Only one message was put through on this cable – that came from Queen Victoria, then the cable had to be taken up and re-laid.
8. one of earlier jobs before going to sea, when the first cable was laid between Dover and Calais – father had a livery stable in Dover, and secured the contract for carrying telegraphed messages from the cable station to the township (about 3 miles) on ponies with 2 other boys.
9. Trips on the high seas included to China and India, carrying Tea in clippers to London.
10. Sailed to Australia as an able seaman in the Queen of England [sic] in 1861. The trip to Melbourne took 98 days and after discharging our cargo, took on ballast and sailed to Newcastle where we intended to take in coal for China. We passed Sydney Heads at 8pm and at 5am the following morning (May 1st, 1861) the Queen of England went on the rocks at Nobbys, Newcastle. The vessel got off at flood tide, and subsequently brought to Sydney and restored to seaworthiness at Cockatoo Dock. Captain Nolan wanted me to rejoin the ship, but I had secured a good billet in the meantime, and could earn nearly as much in a week as I could in a month aboard ship.
Hope this helps clarify!?!?!?!?!
Off to bed now as it is 1am...
Megan in Sydney
